Kennedy in final

CLARION, Pa. -- Kennedy Catholic junior center David Jackson was all-but-unstoppable for most of Tuesday's PIAA Class A Western final, scoring 18 points and pulling down 14 rebounds.
Then he fouled out with 36.7 seconds remaining in regulation and the Golden Eagles ahead of Blairsville, 55-53.
Bobcats point guard Adam Highberger capped an outstanding game by making two free throws to force overtime.
That's when Kennedy Catholic sophomore forward Blair Rozenblad took over, scoring all six of the Golden Eagles' points in the extra session.
Kennedy Catholic's 61-59 victory earned the school its first trip to Hershey in three years and the second under four-year head coach Tim Loomis.
Final on Friday
Friday at 3 p.m. at the Giant Center, Kennedy Catholic (24-6) will play Bishop O'Reilly (28-4) for the Pennsylvania crown.
"I felt the game was on my shoulders and I needed to take over," Rozenblad said of the pressure he felt after Jackson fouled out.
Rozenblad ignited the Golden Eagles with a dunk 20 seconds into overtime after they had struggled for composure after letting a 42-31 lead slip away.
"Oh that felt great," Rozenblad said. "That dunk really put [Blairsville] down and really helped us elevate us. We weren't panicked but we knew we needed to calm down and get things under control because we blew the lead."
But the Bobcats (29-2) weren't through as junior forward Jerome Nadeo and Rozenblad exchanged putback baskets.
Blairsville rallies
With 20 seconds to go, Blairsville Nick Stone tied the game, 59-59, with a lay-in. But seven seconds later, Rozenblad calmly hit a jump shot from near the foul line for the game-winning points.
Watching the extra session wasn't easy for Jackson.
"That was the longest five minutes of my life, but they pulled it out -- I knew they could do it," Jackson said after the team was pummeled with Hershey Kisses. "I just became Kennedy's biggest cheerleader."
That Blairsville was even in the game was a tribute to Highberger, who scored 22 points before fouling out in overtime.
"I've never seen anything like it," Rozenblad said after Highberger played most of the fourth quarter with four fouls, scoring seven points and making five steals. "He was big-time."
Loomis said, "Obviously, he's a college guard."
Rydbom said foul trouble "isn't a new problem for him. He's one of the smartest players in the state with foul trouble. I don't think it limited his play."
Big run early
After the Bobcats jumped out to a 13-6 lead, the Golden Eagles posted a 24-3 to seize control.
"Their inside presence was hurting us most of the first half," Blairsville coach Mark Rydbom said. "Once we were able to find [Jackson] a little bit better and limit his touches, we were able to get back in it."
Trailing 33-25 at halftime, the Bobcats were able to shave just one point off that advantage in the third quarter.
That's when Highberger took over as the Bobcats forced the Golden Eagles to make nine turnovers in the fourth quarter.
"Obviously, we didn't do a good job playing with that big lead," Loomis said. "This game was one of the worst we played, but we still won so you've got to be happy."
Rydbom said he was "overwhelmed by the effort these guys gave. We stood and fought them tooth and nail. We played a whale of a game."
"It seems we were one stop away of taking the air out of the ball and turning it into a foul-shooting contest," Rydbom said. "I think we would have been the team to advance, if that had been the case."
Happy for seniors
Instead it's the Golden Eagles representing the West. Loomis said he's happiest for seniors Brandon Mirizio and Shamus Reimold.
"It's nice to go back, especially for these two seniors who were freshmen last time," Loomis said. "They were a big part of us getting there. Rozenblad and Jackson are a big part, too, but you have to have that senior leadership."
KENNEDY CATHOLIC 61, BLAIRSVILLE 59 (OT)
Kennedy11221396--61
Blairsville131214164--59
Leading scorers: KC (24-6) -- David Jackson 18, Blair Rozenblad 14, Brandon Mirizio 9, Bryan Frankovich 9; Blairsville (29-2) Adam Highberger 22, Nick Stone 10, Jerome Nadeo 9.